The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has revealed that her life is in danger due to her ongoing fight against counterfeit and illicit drugs in Nigeria.
Speaking at the Meet the Media parley organized by the presidential media team on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Prof. Adeyeye disclosed that she now lives under heavy security, as threats against her and her staff continue to escalate.
“I don’t have a life. I cannot go anywhere without police, and to me, that is not my way of living. But I don’t have a choice because we have to save our country,” she lamented. She further revealed that two policemen are stationed at her residence in both Abuja and Lagos round the clock.
The NAFDAC DG also recounted a harrowing incident involving one of her staff members in Kano, whose child was kidnapped in retaliation for his role in enforcing drug regulations. Fortunately, the child managed to escape.
Prof. Adeyeye stated that the agency’s recent large-scale enforcement operation against counterfeit drug markets was among the biggest in NAFDAC’s history. The crackdown targeted major open drug markets in Onitsha, Aba, and Lagos, resulting in the seizure of 87 truckloads of banned, expired, and substandard medical products. These included antiretroviral drugs, male and female condoms, and other pharmaceuticals, some of which were donated by international organizations like USAID and UNFPA.
She estimated the total value of the confiscated products at a staggering N1 trillion, with further assessments possibly increasing the figure. The operation, which began on February 9, 2025, involved 1,100 security operatives, including personnel from the military, police, and the Department of State Services (DSS). Security forces cordoned off the affected markets to prevent traders from smuggling out illegal products.
NAFDAC’s fight against fake drugs has historically been fraught with danger. The late Prof. Dora Akunyili, who served as the agency’s Director-General from 2001 to 2009, also faced multiple death threats and assassination attempts due to her relentless crackdown on counterfeit drugs. Akunyili’s personal motivation stemmed from the tragic death of her sister, who died after receiving fake insulin.
Like Akunyili, Prof. Adeyeye is determined to rid Nigeria of counterfeit drugs despite the threats against her life. She emphasized that the ongoing enforcement aligns with NAFDAC’s National Action Plan (NAP 2.0) 2023-2027, which aims to eliminate fake medicines, enhance regulatory compliance, and protect public health.
Despite the dangers, she remains resolute in her mission, saying, “We have to save our country. Nonetheless, I also use common sense.”
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